Golf putting game device



Dec. 5, 1961 c. E. PAGE GOLF PUTTING GAME DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 20, 1960 INVENTOR flaw/wet Page ATTORNEYS C. E. PAGE GOLF PUTTING GAME DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR f/fli/Zf Page BY Air a Dec. 5, 1961 Filed June 20, 1960 Dec. 5, 1961 c. E. PAGE GOLF PUTTING GAME DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 20, 1960 INVENTOR fa e/26a ffiaye ATTORNEYS BZJM Dec. 5, 1961 c. E. PAGE 3,011,791

GOLF PUTTING GAME DEVICE Filed June 20, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 i ya:

I "is, 0|. HO o INVENTOR W/WW ATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1961 c. E. PAGE GOLF PUTTING GAME DEVICE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 20, 1960 INVENTOR flare/we f Faye BY m W zizxa Dec. 5, 1961 c. E. PAGE 3,011,791

GOLF PUTTING GAME DEVICE Filed June 20, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 MENTOR [Zane/20a .6 Page wwfl ATTORNEY 6 Dec. 5, 1961 c. E. PAGE 3,011,791

GOLF PUTTING GAME DEVICE Filed June 20, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 INV EN TOR flweweffiaye ATTORNEYS Dec. 5, 1961 c. E. PAGE- 3,011,791

GOLF PUTTING GAME DEVICE Filed June 20, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 a w cam/0w; I33 @13- [N VEN T012 BY Clarence E Page M hm, 7% sW ATTORNEY 8 Dec. 5, 1961 c. E. PAGE 3,011,791

GOLF PUTTING GAME DEVICE Filed June 20, 1960 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 /2/ we /22 I24 1 w 1 MI 66 #2 {a B 95 /07// #0 #2 [NI/5111701? BY flake/Z655 Faye ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,911,791 GGLF PUTTING GAME DEVICE Clarence E. Page, R0. Box 1696, Oklahoma City, Okla. Filed June 20, 1960, Ser. No. 37,599 5 Qiaims. (Cl. 273179) This invention relates to an amusement, or game device, and more particularly to a golf putting game device which may be played in small areas or game rooms.

The present application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 601,508, filed August 1, 1956, now abandoned.

Putting is recognized as the most vital shot in the game of golf. This is borne out by the constant practice of experts to maintain and improve the accuracy of their putting and the score of their game.

Heretofore, in golf putting games, attempts have been made to simulate the putting green by providing sloping fields or runways having inclined surfaces. These devices, however, presented to the player a field on which putting became a game of chance rather than requiring skill and consequently did not ofier improvement of the players skill.

The device of this invention provides for a completely automatic control of the scoring and ball handling during a nine-hole putting game. It also provides a contoured and undulated putting surface over which the ball must be played. In playing the ball over this surface, the contours and undulations present to the player a test of his skill as a putter. By requiring the player to evaluate each putt from a different teeing position the game also provides a means for improving the players game so that he is more proficient on the golf course.

The game also provides a platform for the player to stand on while playing the game. At his right is a guard rail which has attached thereto a golf putting club for use in putting the ball. At the start of the game, a ball is automatically ejected onto the playing field, and the player tees the ball on the first tee. After evaluating the course over which the ball must travel as he would do on at putting green, the player putts the ball. A guard is provided part Way up the playing field so that if the player overplays the ball by hitting it too hard, it will be deflected back toward the player. A properly played ball, however, will roll under the guard and approach the hole, either to be sunk for a hole-in-one or to come to rest at a position adjacent to the hole. If the ball comes to rest adjacent to the hole, it can be scored by actuating a foot pedal at the left of the player, which sets in motion a sweep arm that rolls the ball into one of several circumferential or semi-circular slots from which the ball is automatically scored indicating the degree of skill used in approaching the hole. A putted ball not having the required momentum to reach the playing area will roll backwards, falling into a slot traversing the playing field under the guard. A ball so played will also be scored to indicate a low degree of skill. If the ball played falls into one of the various slots or holes, it engages a switch which sets the scoring mechanism in operation. A hole-in-one, that is, a ball which is played to the cup, scores one point; and a ball which is raked from a position of rest adjacent to the hole scores two to five points depending upon its position in relation to the hole. The farther from the cup the ball is when it comes to rest, the higher the score recorded.

A smooth metal plate is positioned at the break of the inclined field a short distance in front of the hole so that a ball cannot come to rest at a dead spot and be beyond the reach of the sweep. A ball, therefore, decelerating in its forward progress, will, if it tends to come to rest upon the metal plate, roll backward and be collected in the transverse slot under the guard.

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The bottom of each circumferential slot is inclined toward the centerline of the golf game device so that a ball falling into one of the slots will roll toward the centerline where it will drop through a hole in the slot and be conveyed by gravity down a ball return channel to a ball-lifting mechanism. As a ball falls through a hole, it actuates a switch which sets into operation the scoring mechanism. A ball falling into the transverse slot under the guard also passes through a hole and actuates a scoring switch before it is conveyed by gravity into the ball return chute, coming to rest at the balllifting mechanism.

As a ball is scored, the ball-lifting mechanism automatically is set into operation to deliver the next ball onto the playing field. The ball lift is composed of a drum-type wheel having a set of lifting fingers spaced at equal intervals around the periphery of the wheel. In the surface of the wheel is a groove which slopes toward the playing field. As the wheel turns, a finger picks up the ball resting against the smooth surface of the drum wheel and elevates it through an arc of approximately When the wheel reaches its ascent, the ball, by force of gravity, rolls back on the surface of the wheel and is conveyed perpendicular to the plane of ascent along the groove where, through a slot in the playing field side of the lift mechanism, the ball is ejected out onto the playing field.

The ball ejected onto the playing field is placed on the next tee, corresponding to the number of the ball played, and putted towards the cup. Nine tees are provided, and each ball played from each tee must traverse a path having a different contour from the path for any other tee. The player scoring the lowest number of points is the winner and the most proficient putter. A perfect game is nine points.

Thus, this invention contemplates the elimination of the difiiculties heretofore experienced in golf putting games by providing an improved, automatically controlled nine-hole golf putting device which presents to the player conditions equivalent to those found on the putting green. A contoured and undulated playing surface on which to putt the ball simulates the contours found on the putting greens of a golf course, and the player evaluates each putt as is required on the actual putting green. In addition, this invention provides an improved electrically controlled game mechanism which provides for automatic score accumulation and ball control through the game.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a simulated golf green by means of a special, carpet-like material, and a putting surface having rigid contours and undulations requiring the player to evaluate each putt from a different teeing position, thus improving the players skill so that he is more proficient on the golf course.

A further object of this invention is to provide a golf putting game device which will score the players ability to place the ball near or in the cup, giving an indication of his skill on the putting green.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a combination of mechanical and electrical operating features in this game device which will automatically control the ball and provide for the accumulative scoring of each ball played during the nine-hole game.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a sweeping mechanism operating in combination with scoring and ball controlling mechanisms, which will place the ball played in a scoring channel to indicate the degree of skill that the player has exhibited in playing the ball to the cup.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a ball return channel and a ball lifting mechanism connecting with the ball return channel for delivering a ball to the playing field.

Additional objects of this invention will become apparent from an examination of the drawings, description and claims.

The invention will be described further in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and do not constitute limitations thereof.

In the drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective showing the golf putting device with a Plexiglas shield covering a portion of the playing field;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view partly in section, showing the playing field, the sweep mechanism in a position of clearing the putting green around the cup, and the arcuate scoring slots into which the balls not played to the cup are scored;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, showing the floor supporting structure of the putting green, the details of the arcuate slots, and a ball return chute;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the ball lift mechanism with cover plate removed;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional plan view, along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4, showing the ball lift mechanism;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view, along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2, showing the ball lift mechanism and the guard for deflecting an overplayed ball back to the player;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical transverse section taken along the line 7--7 of FIGURE 2, showing the construction of the undulated and contoured section of the playing field;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded view in perspective showing the rib assembly and the surface of the playing field;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary section, partly diagrammatic, showing on an enlarged scale further details of the sweep mechanism illustrated in the upper left hand portion of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 10 is a detailed elevation, partly in section, showing, in solid lines, the sweep arm in its raised position, and, in dotted lines, the sweep arm prior to the contacting of the same with the projecting member which raises the sweep arm;

FIGURE 11 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 1111 of FIGURE 9 showing details of the cam and switch which operate the motor for the sweep arm;

FIGURE 12 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 1212 of FIGURE 9 showing details of the supporting means for the sweep arm and the stop for preventing backward pivoting of the sweep arm; and

FIGURES 13a and 13b constitute a schematic diagram of the electrical portion of the golf putting device.

This invention is described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, as follows:

FIGURE 1 shows a golf putting device 10 having a playing surface 11 supported on a base 12. The base is three and one-half inches high at the putting end and eleven and one-half inches high at the scoring end. The playing field is ten feet long and twenty-nine inches wide. Acarpet-like material 13 covers the playing surface and provides a mat having a short nap, simulating a fast bent grass green as found on golf courses. At the front end of theplaying field are two platforms 14 which extend on each side of the playing surface 11 to permit the player, whether left or right handed, to stand immediately off the playing surface, allowing sufiicient room to putt properly. This wooden platform is twelve inches wide and eighteen inches long and is fastened to the base 12. It is the same height as the playing surface and covered with floor matting material. About six inches from the playing end of the game device are nine teeing positions 15 placed evenly across the playing surface to be used successively through numbers 1-9 by the player. Also at the playing end is a guard rail 16 designed to hold a golf putting club 17 which is fastened to the rail with a link chain 18 so that it is available and convenient to the player. The length of the chain and presence of the guard rail permit proper putting of a golf ball but prevent a heavy swing. Below guard rail 16 is a recessed channel 19 designed to trap balls which may roll past the teeing section, so that they are retained on the playing field. At the left side of the field is a ball lift mechanism compartment 20 which houses a ball lift mechanism (later to be described), a coin slot mechanism 21, and a game starter button 22. In the left platform 14 near the compartment 20 isa ball sweep starter pedal 23 which is used by the player during thegame.

Midway up the field is a permanent guard 24 overlying the field, having a Plexiglas extension25, pitched at an angle with the vertical so that a hard hit ball will not leave the playing field but will pop up and be deflected toward the player. The guard covers a scoring slot 26 (see FIGURE 2) lying in the playing field and traversing it. This slot is eighteen inches long and three inches wide and designed so that li htly played balls will drop into it, or any ball having passed it but not having suificient momentum to reach the scoring area will roll back into it. The side of the slot toward the playing end is slightly higher than the side toward the scoring end so that a properly putted ball will skim over the slot without being deflected or bounced.

The playing surface 11 is made up of a lower section 27, where the player tees the balls, an intermediate inclined section 28, which is contoured and undulated, and. an upper flat scoring section or area 29. The base 12 for supporting the playing field is of boxlike construction, having a plurality of supporting ribs 30 which lie transverse to the slope of the playing field (see FIGURE 8).

. At the end of the base, the ribs are spaced close together to form a rigid support for the player. These front ribs vary little in height and provide a relatively fiat section when assembled. Beyond the area where the player tees the ball, the ribs are more widely spaced and successively vary in height to each other so as to provide the upward inclination of the field. Most of the ribs have contoured faces 31 (see FIGURE 9), each rib being so contoured that when a surface sheet 32 is applied over them, a field having undulations and contours is produced. The ribs near the back of the field have rectangular openings 33 therein so that a series of these openings, one in each successive rib, provides an opening for a ball return arrangement. One side of the base has a rectangular opening 34 in line with the series of openings in the ribs for this purpose. Forward of the opening 34 is another rectangular opening 35 which provides for the ball return arrangement from rectangular slot 26, which is located in the surface of sheet 32. When the surface sheet (preferably a thin sheet of plywood) is placed on top of the ribs and secured, the resultant structure is the playing field having the contours and undulations as provided for by the faces of the contoured ribs.

Scoring area 29 has a relatively flat surface and is lo cated at the far end of the playing field. A regulationsized golf cup 36,'four and one-quarter inches in diameter, is located in the center of the scoring area. A fourteen inch radius around the golf cup is the elfective scoring area. The front half of this area is level and the back half has a series of four semi-circular slots 37 (see FIGURE 9). A played ball that stops in the fourteen inch radius in front of the cup is in a position to be swept into one of the circumferential slots beyond the cup for scoring.

' A ball played too hard, drops into one of the circumferential slots behind the cup for scoring.

If a ball comes to rest on the playing field in the scoring area, it can be scored by setting in operation an automatic sweep arm 38, which guides the ball into the appropriate circumferential slot 37. The automatic sweep is operated by the player by stepping on foot pedal 23, which sets in operation a sweep drive motor 39, located in scoring compartment 40 (see FIGURES 3 and 9). As the sweep arm is set in operation, it drops downward and rotates through an angle of 36-) degrees. The sweep arm 38 has-perpendicular fiat fingers forming pockets 41 therein so that a ball resting in the scoring area will be gathered in a particular pocket and placed in the appropriate circumferential slot which corresponds to the distance the ball rests from the cup (see FIGURES 2 and 3). The operation of the sweep mechanism will appear more clearly hereinafter in connection with a detailed description of FIG- URES 9 to 12, inclusive.

On the playing field at the top of the inclined section and central with respect to the position of the cup, is a smooth metal plate 42 (see FIGURE 2) designed so that a ball which might otherwise come to rest in this particular area just beyond the reach of the automatic sweep arm, will not be restrained by the playing surface nap and will roll backwards down the inclined field and be trapped in the transverse scoring slot 26.

When a ball drops into the golf cup 36, it passes through the hole 43 and actuates a trigger switch 44 positioned beneath the hole, to score the ball. Bottom 45 of each circumferential slot 37 slopes inwardly from each end and reaches its lowest point at the center line of the playing field where a hole 46 allows the ball to pass out of the circumferential slot and past switch 47, positioned beneath the hole 46, for scoring (see FIGURE 3). A ball not reaching the scoring area, rolling backward, and falling into the transverse slot 26, will roll by gravity down a transverse ball return chute 48 and operate a switch 49, scoring the ball.

Directly under the holes in the circumferential slots and in the cup is a ball return channel 50 which is inclined downwardly and which runs to the ball lift compartment 20 at the front left side of the playing field (see FIGURE 2).

The transverse ball return chute 48, located under transverse slot 26, is also inclined to the left and feeds a ball dropping into slot 26 by gravity into channel 50. Thus, by the use of a gravity feed channel, a ball played and scored in any slot is automatically returned to the ball lift mechanism, which is automatically set into operation.

The ball lift mechanism 51 (see FIGURE 4), has a drum wheel 52 with a fiat outer surface 53. Equally spaced around the periphery of the wheel are four pairs of lifting lugs 54 extending radially outward, each lug having a forked finger 55 bent slightly upward. In the periphery of the drum just above the radial lifting lug is a groove 56 (see also FIGURES and 6) which has an inclined surface extending across the face of the drum. When a ball, resting in the channel 50 against the periphcry of the drum, is picked up by the forked fingers of the lifting lug, it rests thereon during the upward flight until the lug approaches the top of its ascent. At this point, the ball, due to gravity, falls back against the periphery of the wheel and tends to roll transverse to its lifting motion. An elongated slot 57 (see FIGURE 4) on the playing side of the ball lift mechanism allows the ball to continue to roll down the groove 56 and fall out onto the playing field at the players feet.

The ball lift mechanism is driven by a motor 58 which is electrically controlled so that the lifting wheel turns one-quarter of a turn after each ball has been scored or the game started by pressing on starter button 22. A switch 85 positioned in the path of the lugs 54 (see FIG- URE 5) is contacted by a lug for each quarter turn in such a manner as to deenergize the motor 58. Only three balls are required since the game is completely automatic and only one ball is delivered onto the playing field for each shot played.

Located above the scoring area is a panel 59 for indieating the score of the balls played (see FIGURE The accumulative score is recorded by a set of scoring wheels 60 which are set in operation after each ball played passes one of the scoring switches. Across the scoring panel is located a series of nine lights 61 which light up as each ball is scored, indicating the number of balls played and the teeing position for the next ball to be played. The nine lights are numbered one to nine, inclusive. When a perfect shot is made, a hole-in-one light 62 located below the appropriately numbered light, is also illuminated.

From the lower part of the scoring panel, a Plexiglas cover 151 extends over a portion of the playing area as a shielding arrangement, to prevent interference or manipulation of any ball in play.

Reference should be made now to FIGURES 2 and 3 and, particularly, FIGURES 9 to 12, inclusive, for a detailed description of the sweep mechanism referred to briefly above.

The drive for the sweep mechanism is a low speed motor 39. A cam 144 is keyed to the shaft 39' of the motor 39 in such a manner as to contact a switch which is mounted adjacent the motor shaft. A larger shaft 63 is keyed to the lower end of the motor shaft 39. A sleeve 79, serving as a bearing pivot for the extension 38 of sweep arm 38, is rigidly mounted at the lower end of the shaft 63. The arm extension 38' is received within the sleeve 79 so as to be pivotal therein in the (forward) direction as shown by the larger arrow in FIGURE 10. However, the sleeve 79 is provided with a stop 78 which engages a suitable pin 78 on the arm extension 38' to prevent the latter from pivoting in the opposite direction. The cam 144 is placed on the shaft 39' in such a Way that it opens the switch 145 when the sweep arm is positioned toward the rear of the scoring area 29. Mounted under the cabinet at such an angle as to meet a vertical appendage 77 on the arm extension 38 is a projection 76, the position of which is adjusted so the appendage 77 and the projection 76 meet just before the arm 38 is straight back. As the motor continues to turn, the appendage 77 is forced back caus ng the sweep arm 38 to be lifted to a horizontal position out of the way of the playing field at the scoring area. At this point, the cam operated switch 145 is actuated to stop the motor 39, allowing the sweep arm to rest in this position. Inversely, when the motor starts, the appendage passes the projection, allowing the sweep arm to drop back to a vertical position (as shown in solid lines in FIGURE 9),. from which position it can rotate and remove any ball that may be in the scoring area ahead of it.

M ethod of operation Before describing the electrical system in detail the operation of the putting game device will be described briefly as follows:

Coins in the form of a nickel, dime or quarter are inserted in the coin slot 21 which places the electrical system in operation and accumulates the games in multiples of ten cent units. By pressing the game starter button 22, a game timer is energized and a ball is automatically ejected onto the playing surface 11 at the players feet, simultaneously illuminating the light 61 corresponding to number one on the panel 59. The player places the ball on the first tee and evaluates the course over which the ball must travel from that particular tee to the cup. The contours are so buit into the field that in order to sink a putt into the regulation golf cup 36 at the scoring end of the game, the player must take into consideration the different contours of the surface.

After evaluation of the shot, the player putts the ball toward the cup. If the ball sinks into the cup, it passes through the hole 43, tripping the switch 44, which sets the automatic scoring mechanism into operation to record a score of one. If the ball comes to rest 7 adjacent the cup in the scoring area, it is scored by actuating the foot pedal 23 which sets in motion the automatic sweep arm 38, which deposits the ball, ac-

cording to its distance from the cup, into the appropriate circumferential slot 37 located behind the cup-and a score from two to five is recorded, depending upon how close to the cup the ball was resting. A ball traveling beyond the cup "will pass directly into one of the circumferential slots 37, Where it will drop through a hole 46, actuating the corresponding switch 47, which sets the scoring mechanism in motion. In like manner, a ball hit not hard enough to reach the scoring area, rolls back and is collected in the transverse scoring slot 26 under the deflection guard, and trips the switch 49 to set the scoring mechanism .in action, recording a score of six. Upon the scoring of the ball played, the second light 61 appears showing that the second teeing position is to be played. The score is indicated by scoring wheels 60 and, in addition, if the ball has been putted directly into the cup 36 from the first tee, a light 62 located below the number one light will indicate a hole-in-one for this putt.

After the scoring of the first ball, the ball lift mechanism 51 is automatically placed in operation and a second ball is delivered onto the playing field and placed by the player on the second tee position, from which it is played. After the second ball is scored, a third ball is automatically delivered and played from the third tee, and so on, until nine balls have been played, which constitutes a full game.

Each time a new ball is delivered onto the field and placed in a different teeing position, a completely new putting course is presented to the player, due to the undulations and contours of the field. The player must re-evaluate the course for each ball and putt accordingly, because each putt travels a different distance and over a different set of contours. The player with the lowest score wins the game. For example, a score of nine would be a perfect game in that the player would have made nine holes-in-one.

Electrical system The electrical system of the golf game device is designed to operate on 115 to 120 volts, 60 cycle, A.C.

current. Power is supplied to the primary of a stepdown transformer whose secondary windings supply 30 volts and 6 volts, A.C., at 10 amperes.

As stated above, money, in denominations of nickels, dimes and quarters, is deposited in a coin drop of standard design, which does not form a part of this invention. Coins that are mutilated or of other than natural metal will not register in the coin drop. The coins are automatically separated into nickels, dimes and quarters each denomination passing through a different chute in which a switch 64 is actuated. A 30 volt potential is impressed upon these switches 64 (see FIG. 13a) and an impulse will be sent out upon actuation. As designed by the manufacturer, it will send out one impulse for a nickel, two impulses for a dime, and five impulses for a quarter.

Impulses from the actuated coin switches 64 are impressed upon step-up coil 65 and upon the movable contactor 66, both in the dime multiple unit 67. The dime multiple unit 67 is a solenoid operated step switch, the movable contactor 66 stepping one position for each impulse received by the step-up coil 65. Every second stationary contact of the unit 67 is connected electrically to the step-up solenoid 69 of the accumulator 68, thus permitting every second impulse to be transmitted onto I applied to one leg of each pole.

later to be described) to the down-step solenoid 79, of the accumulator which steps the ratchet arm 68' down one step (counter-clockwise), subtracting one game. 'lhis unit 68 operates as a game storing device based on a dime per game so that money in the form of nickels, dimes or quarters will register on the system and automatically provide for the play of games, depending on the multiple of ten-cent units which are accumulated.

The accumulator unit 68 contains three single pole single throw leaf switches. With no games collected on the accumulator unit 68, switch 69A is normally open. This switch is in series with the game start switch 71 (operated by the game start button 22) and delivers potential through the impulse unit switch 141 (lower right portion of FIGURE 13b), when the impulse unit 93 (later to be described) is at rest, to the ball control unit 74, section 146 (shown in the reset position). This section allows potential to pass in all positions except in the reset position (thus protecting from the loss of more than one game). In all other positions of the ball control unit 74 (as represented by completed or partially completed games), potential will pass from switch 141 through section 146 to the master relay 72, and also to the downstep solenoid 70 of the accumulator 68 removing one game from the number of stored games in the unit. As will hereinafter appear, actuation of the master relay 72 will actuate the master reset relay 73 to reset all units to the start position for another game. Switch 68B is a normally closed single pole, single throw switch receiving its potential from the six volt source. In this position it delivers potential to light 134, indicating no games left on the accumulator by lighting an indicator (not shown) that reads Deposit Coin. As soon as one game is accumulated in the unit switch 68B opens extinguishing the light 134.

Switch'68C is a normally open single pole'single throw switch. This switch is actuated when the accumulator has reached the maximum number of games it can contain. The ratchet arm 68 then strikes this switch closing it. Potential for this switch is received from the v. source and, when the switch is closed it sends this potential to the lock-out or coin-return coil 133 located in the coin drop unit, thus causing any coin deposited thereafter in the coin drop to be rejected.

After one or more games have been accumulated, as indicated above, pressing the game start button 22 will actuate the game start switch 71 delivering potential also to the master relay 72 when the ball control unit 74 is in other than the reset position. The master relay 72 is a three-pole single throw switch with normally open contacts 72A, 72B and 72C, with 30 v. potential Relay 72, when energized momentarily by the closing of game start switch 71, will send a potential to three units: from 72A to reset coil 81 of the ball control unit 74; from 72B to time set relay 83; and from 72C to the scoring reset relay 73.

As will hereinafter appear the time reset relay 83 is associated with a timer which is designed to allow sulficient time for playing the game before opening the circuit. The main purposes of the unit are for safety and economy, to reduce wear on the electronic parts and to reduce current consumption when the game is not in operation.

The ball control unit 74, having a potential impressed from contacts 72A of the master relay 72 upon its reset coil 81, will have its contactors (arrows) moved to the reset position (as shown) in readiness for play of the game. The ball control unit 74 is a solenoid operated step switch of four poles or sections with ten steps each. One pole or section 146 has the last nine of its stationary contacts connected electrically. The movable contact is open in the reset, or first position. This section 146, as mentioned earlier, is in series with the switch 68A of the accumulator unit 68 and the master relay 72 through the switch 141. As stated above, section 146 prohibits the loss of a game from the accumulator 68 while in the reset position, but will allow a game to be cleared and reset at any later point of operation. Another pole or section 147 of the ball control unit 74 has its first eight stationary contacts connected electrically. This section is in series with switch 111 of the impulse unit 93 and the ball lift relay 84 (all later to be described). This section 147 allows a ball to be deposited on the playing surface at the start of the game and at every operative position, but prevents a ball from being placed on the surface in its ninth or tenth positions. The third pole or section 148 of the ball control unit 74 has ten stationary contacts which are connected to the nine numbered lights 61 and to the light 61 indicating the game is over. The other pole or section 149 of the ball control unit has its first nine stationary contacts connected to relays 118 through 126, respectively, which allow each perfectly played ball to be shown by illuminating the light 62 located on the panel below the corresponding lighted number 61 of the ball played. (These relays and lights will be detailed later.)

The scoring reset relay 73 is a five-pole, Single throw switch with three normally open and two normally closed poles. Pole 73A, normally open, supplies potential to its own coil 73 in series with a switch 135 in the impulse unit. Pole 73B, normally open, supplies potential to the scoring wheel resetimpulse unit switches 137 and 139 which reset the scoring Wheels to zero position. (This operation will be detailed later.) Pole 73C, normally closed, opens the circuit to step-up coil 82 of the ball control unit 74. Pole 73D, normally closed, opens the scoring circuit to the scoring units 112 and 113 from the scoring impulse unit to prevent them from being operated from these switches during reset. Pole 73E supplies 115 v. potential to the impulse unit motor 93 through switch 193.

The ball lift relay 84 actuates a two-pole, single throw switch, both poles of which are normally open. One pole 84A impresses 115 volt potential on the ball lift 'motor 58. The other pole 84B impresses a 30 volt potential on its own coil through a switch 85 located and operated by the ball lift wheel 51. This switch 85 is a single-pole, single throw, normally closed leaf switch. The ball lift wheel 51, upon depositing a ball on the playing surface will trip the switch 85, releasing the hold-in circuit 'on the ball lift relay 84, stopping the operation.

In order to control the length of time for playing the nine holes, a timer unit 75 is employed. The timer unit uses a conventional type dual section tube 127 having a diode section 127A and a tetrode section 127B.

Section 127A of the tube, with its cathode connected to 115 v. A.C., will act as a half-wave rectifier supplying pulsating DC. at 110 v. to the RC network, consisting of capacitor 128 and resistor 129, when normally opened contacts 83A on relay 83 are (closed) actuated. Current flowing from 127A will charge the capacitor 128, also placing a high positive charge on the grid of section 12713 of the tube and driving it to out 01f. When the ball control unit 74 is moved to the reset position the circuit to the relays 72 and 83 becomes de-energized and contacts 83A are opened. Thus, since no current is flowing in tube section 127B, the charge on the capacitor 128 will bleed oti slowly and gradually through the resistor 129, the latter being of high resistance, allowing the grid to return to a point where it will no longer cut off the cathode-plate flow. At this time the plate current Will flow in the tube section 1273 to the plate relay 130 actuating its normally closed contacts 130A, and opening the circuit. The capacitor 143 connected across the plate relay 130 is to dampen the effect of the pulsating DC. voltage applied to the relay to prevent any contact chatter. The contacts 130A of this relay are in series with all electrical components of the device, except the coin drop switches 64, the accumulator unit 68, and main 10 panel lights. Normally closed contacts 83B will open the circuits to the relays 118 to 126, inclusive, when the relay 83 is energized.

When relay 83 is actuated at the start of the game, it causes contacts 139A to be closed, thus actuating the components of the device. It will allow an abundant amount of time for playing the game before turning off. This unit is merely a safety and economy feature to reduce wear on the electronic parts and to reduce current consumption when the device is not being used.

All units now in a reset position are in readiness for the game to be played. Positioned beneath the scoring area are switches 44, 4'7 and 49; switch 44 represents a hole-in-one and scores 1; successive switches 47 score 2, 3, 4 and 5; and switch 49 scores 6. These switches having a 30 volt potential applied to one side, when actuated will energize scoring relays 87 through 92, respectively. These relays are all three-pole, single throw, normally open switches. One pole, for example, 87C, of each relay supplies potential from the 115 volt source to one-throw of the single-pole, double-throw switch 1% on the impulse unit to energize the cam-driving motor 93 (later to be described) each time that one of these switches is actuated. Another pole, for example, 87A, supplies potential to its own coil in series with switch 1'90 on the impulse unit. The third poles 87B to 9213, inclusive, deliver potential to the impulse switches 94 through 99, inclusive, respectively.

The impulse unit consists of a motor 93, eleven cams driven in unison and mounted on the common shaft 93 of the motor and a plurality of switches which are actuated by these cams as follows:

Cam 101 (1 lobe): Switch *94produces l scoring impulse for scoring wheels Cam 102 (2 lobes): Switch 95produces 2 impulses Cam 193 (3 lobes): Switch 96-pr0duces 3 impulses Cam 1434 (4 lobes): Switch 97-produces 4 impulses Cam 195 (5 lobes): Switch 98-produces 5 impulses Cam 1116 (6 lobes): Switch 99-produces 6 impulses Cam 107 (1 lobe):

Switch 100-411 series with the holding contacts of relays 87 to 92 Switch 141in series with master relay 72, contacts 68A of the accumulator 68, and section 146 of ball control unit 74 Cam 107A (1 lobe):

Switch 1il8provides continuous potential to motor 93 for one revolution Switch 135in series with holding contacts 73A of scoring reset relay 73 Switch 14ll-in series with bell coil 142 for hole-inone bell 142' Cam 109 (1 lobe):

Switch 111in series with section 147 of ball control unit 74 and ball lift relay 84 Switch llil-in series with contacts 73C and step-up coil 82 of ball control unit 74 Cam 136 (10 lobes): Switch 137in series with contacts 73B of scoring reset relay 73 and switch of units wheel 112 Cam 138 (10 lobes): Switch 139-in series with contacts 738 and switch 115A of tens wheel 113 When one of these switches 44, 47 or 49 is actuated, its corresponding relay will be energized, supplying a potential to the normally closed side of switch 198, starting motor 93 of the impulse unit. Cam 107A, being rotated, will actuate switch 108, opening the normally closed side of this switch and closing the normally open side. The latter side, being supplied with its own 115 volt potential, causes motor 93 to continue to rotate until switch 108 is returned to its normal position, thus interrupting the potential and ceasing the operation. Cam 107, being on the common shaft 93', will rotate when motor 93 is started, closing switch 100, one side of which is supplied with 30 volt potential, thus impressing 30 volts on the hold-in contacts A of the scoring relay (87 to 92) that isclosed, keeping it this way until the scoring impulses have been delivered. Cam 109,

being on the common shaft 93, will rotate as motor 93 a is energized, actuating switch 110, which has a 30 volt potential applied to one leg, delivering one impulse to the step-up coil 82 of the ball control unit, after the scoring cycle has been completed. Cam 109 will also actuate switch 111 immediately after the impulse unit is started, delivering one impulse to the bali lift relay 84, thus causing a ball to be deposited on the playing field. Cams 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106, being on the common shaft and having, respectively 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 lobes, will actuate switches 94 to 99, respectively. The potential to one of switches 94 to 99 will be Supplied by one of contacts 873 to 923 of relays 87 to 92, respectively, depending upon which relay is energized, and, thus, the corresponding number of impulses will be delivered to the scoring wheels.

The units and tens scoring wheels are two drums 112 and 113, numbered zero to nine, mounted on shafts 112 and 113', respectively (shown diagrammatically). Each shaft has a ratchet (not shown) of ten steps connected to it rigidly. Each ratchet is operated by a solenoid 116 or 117, linked in such a way that, with each impulse impressed on the solenoid coil, the ratchet wheel and associated drum 112 or 113, respectively, will be advanced one place. Also keyed to the units scoring wheel 112 is a single lobed cam 153 which is mounted rigidly on the shaft 112 to actuate a single-pole, singlethrow, normally open switch 114 at the number nine position of the Wheel, thus allowing the next impulse to be received by the solenoid 117 of the tens counting wheel 113, also. Two other cams 154 and 155 are mounted rigidly on the shafts 112' and 113', respectively, in such a position as to deactuate two single-pole, singlethrow, normally closed switches 115 and 115A at zero wheel position, respectively. These switches 115 and 115A are in a series circuit in both the units wheel and the tens wheel with the switches 137 and 139 on cams 136 and 138, respectively, and with pole 73B of the scoring reset relay 73. The scoring coil circuit will be opened when the impulses have returned the wheels to zero where switches 115 and 115A are open.

The accumulated score of the previous game remains on the scoring wheels until the coins have been deposited and the game start button 22 is pressed, sending potential to the master relay 72, one pole of which sends potential to the scoring reset relay73, as previously described. This relay 73 supplies potential to switches 137 and 139 of the impulse unit through pole 73B, and also potential to switch 108 starting the impulse unit through pole 73E. Cams, 136 and 138 mounted rigid to the shaft 93 and having 10 lobes each now operate to cause switches 137 and 139 to send impulses to switches 115 and 115A of the scoring wheels and, thus, to actuating coils 116 and 117 of scoring wheels 112 and 113, respectively. The impulse unit 93 makes one revolution sending ten impulses to each scoring wheel. The cams 154 and 155 will open switches 115 and 115A when the respective wheels reach zero position, disregarding the balance of the impulses. The action of the wheels, being independent, will allow one of them to stop when reaching zero position while the other continues until its zero position is reached.

The lights 62, indicating a perfectly played ball, have the glass over them painted to resemble a golf ball. Each of these is directly below the numbered lights 61 indicating balls played. Thus, each hole-in-one is recorded throughout the game by remaining illuminated under the appropriately numbered light.

The operation of the lights 62 indicating a hole-in-one depends on the actuation of switch 44 and the position of pole 149 of the ball control unit 74. When a ball is correctly played, it drops in the cup 36 of the scoring area, actuating switch 44, delivering potential to the number one scoring relay 87 for score accumulation. Pole 87B of this relay delivers potential to one pole of switch 94 of the impulse unit. This switch being actuated by cam 101 sends an impulse to section 149 of the ball control unit. The stationary contacts of this section of the latter unit are connected progressively and electrically to the relays for lights showing hole-in-one. Thus, when the first ball is being played, the ball control unit is in the first position and the first hole-in-one relay 118 is connected. When the second ball is being played, the ball control unit has been stepped up one place to its second position, and the second hole-in-one relay 119 is connected in series with section 149. This sequence continues through the ninth position.

Relays 118 to 126 are two-pole, single throw, normally open solenoid switches. Potential being applied to the coil 118, for example, closes the two contacts 118A and 11813, the former supplying potential to its own coil 118 in series with contacts 83B of the time set relay 83 and contacts 130A of the plate relay 130. The other contacts 118B, having a six volt potential impressed upon them, deliver this potential to the light 62 showing a hole-inone. In this way, these lights are lighted and will remain lighted until such time as the timer relay is deenergized or the switch starting the game is again operated, thus actuating the timer relay.

The automatic sweep is a low speed motor 39 operating a horizontal arm 38 connected rigidly to the end of its shaft 63. Also mounted rigidly on this shaft is a cam 144, which actuates a single-pole switch that is normally open. The cam 144 is placed on the shaft 63 in such a way that it opens the switch 145 when the sweep arm is positioned toward the rear of the scoring area 29. This arm is mounted in a bearing pivot 79 at its inner end, allowing the arm to pivot forward, but with a stop 78 on the pivot so that the arm 38 may not pivot backwards. Mounted under the cabinet at such an angle as to meet a vertical appendage 77 on the arm is a projection 76, the position of which is adjusted so the appendage 77 and the projection 76 meet just before the arm 38 is straight back. As the motor continuesto turn, the appendage 77 is forced back causing the sweep arm 38 to be lifted to a horizontal position out of the way of the playing field at the scoring area. At this point, the cam operated switch 145 actuates to stop the motor 39, allowing the sweep arm to rest in this position. Inversely, when the motor starts, the appendage passes the projection, allowing the sweep arm to drop back to a lower vertical position (see FIGURE 9) where it can rotate and remove the ball that may be in the scoring area ahead of it.

The operation of the automatic sweep is started by the player stepping on the sweep pedal 23 at the playing end of the machine, thus actuating switch 131. The potential supplied through the timer relay 130 to this switch will then be sent to the sweep relay 132. When the sweep relay is energized, its normally open contacts 132A will deliver potential to the sweep motor 39, causing the motor to start. As the motor starts, the sweep arm appendage 77 drops ofl the projection 76 under the cabinet allowing the sweep arm 38 to pivot down into position and continue to rotate. At this time, the normally open switch 145, having potential applied to it, will be actuated by the cam and will then supply potential to the sweep motor. After the arm collects the hall and sweeps it into the appropriate circumferential slot, the sweep then continues until the appendage 77 on the sweep arm meets the pro jection 76 below the cabinet, raising the arm. (See FIG. 10.) At this time the cam 144 deactuates the motor, ceasing the operation.

While the novel features of the invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is to be understood that various omissions, sub- 13 stitutions and changes in construction and arrangement of the parts shown and described may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is understood that all matters shown or described are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic golf game putting device for controlling and scoring balls played during the game comprising a relatively fiat scoring area at the rear of the game device; a relatively flat teeing section at the front end of the game device; an upwardly sloping put-ting field connecting said scoring area and the teeing section, said put-ting field sloping upwardly from the teeing section and having a contoured surface; a horizontal players platform at the front end of the playing field connected to each side of the teeing section; a transverse scoring slot traversing the playing field beyond the teeing section for collecting putted bal'ls not reaching the scoring area; a scoring cup disposed at the rear of the scoring area and located centrally therewith; a plurality of substantially parallel and separate circumferential scoring slots positioned beyond the cup; an electrically driven sweep arm having pockets therein for depositing the ball at rest on the scoring area into its respective circumferential scoring slot depending on its lay from the cup, said arm pivoting about a point directly above the center of the cup and being controlled from the players platform; an exit hole in the bottom of the cup and in the bottom of each said circumferential slot; a scoring switch located in said hole in the cup, in each said hole in each circumferential slot, and in the end of said transverse slot for scoring a ball passing therethrough; visual scoring means located in a scoring compartment suspended above the scoring area connected to the scoring switches for cumulative scoring of each ball passing a scoring switch; a ball lift wheel mechanism located adjacent to the front end of the playing field for delivering a ball onto the teeing section, said ball lift mechanism being actuated after each ball has been scored; a ball return channel connecting said exit holes in said cup and in each of said slots with said ball lift mechanism to deliver a ball after scoring to said lifting mechani m; and a transverse ball channel for guiding a ball from said transverse slot into said ball return channel.

2. An automatic golf game putting device as claimed in claim 1 in which the sweep arm upon activation drops from a raised position to a point close to the surface of the scoring area and rotates through an angle of 360 sweeping the scoring area after which it is raised out of play.

3. An automatic golf game putting device as claimed in claim 1 in which a shield extends downward from the scoring compartment across the playing field to define an opening whereby only a properly played ball will enter the scoring area.

4. An automatic golf game putting device as claimed in claim 1 in which the playing field is covered with a mat offering resistance to a ball rolling thereon similar to that offered by the surface of a golf green.

5. An automatic golf game putting device as claimed in claim 4 in which a central portion of the playing field around the farthest reaches of the sweep arm is covered with a smooth plate thereby eliminating a dead spot in the playing field so that a ball losing momentum in this area will roll back toward the player and be collected in the transverse scoring slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

